According to illustrator and author, Sarah Lippett, a successful piece of illustration works because it communicates. You might just want to take her word for it. With two graphic novels behind her and collaborations with publications like the New York Times, the Guardian, and Time Out, she clearly puts her money where her mouth is.
“You may have the fanciest style going but if it doesn’t communicate the point the illustrator has failed,” she stressed in an interview with Design Inspiration. “Sometimes, if we’re lucky, these illustrations communicate the unheard stories of people we’re unlikely to come across within our day to day lives.”
Aside from being an author and illustrator, Lippett is also a musician, playing bass in the indie rock band Fever Dream. As such, she finds plenty of inspiration for her work from the music itself. “I listen to a lot of music and radio when I am working on projects/commissions so its a massive part of my life,” she says. “Most always Animal Collective are my favorites, you can find something new in their records everytime you listen and they’re brilliant live. I also love Mark Kermodes film reviews on BBC 5live, he’s an inspirational character.”
“Drawing is my way of getting it all out of my head and out into the world,” she concluded. Follow her thoughts and words (as communicated through her illustrations) on her Instagram page.
